This list does not attempt to rank the ten best songs of Ilayaraja, but rather the ten most memorable songs of no particular order.

If there is one music director that has experimented with Indian Music, it has to be Ilayaraja. He has composed in almost every conceivable raaga, be it Hindustani or Carnatic, and has taken film music beyond the realms of pop culture. Although he was a trendsetter in film music he would often succumb to overexposure and become monotonous, but again he would break away from this monotony and once again create magic. His constant innovation has placed him among the greats.


Poove Sem Poove Movie: Solla Thudikuthu Manasu

I often wonder if beauty can ever be conveyed more beautifully. Yesudoss is absolutely mesmerising in this wonderfull song. Ilayaraja blows you away in the second interlude with the change of pace. This songs remains one my all time favourite love songs.

Poomalai Vangi Movie: Sindhu Bhairavi

Before Sindhu Bhairavi was released, carnatic music was often concivied as a complicated art that would be very difficult for the common man to listen and enjoy. Carnatic music based movies were long gone in Tamil Cinema and few people dared to compose them. Sindhu Bhairavi changed all that. Ilayaraja had taken film music by the horn and turned it around completely. Of all the great songs from the movie, this stands out. Brilliant singing, again, by Yesudoss coupled with Raja’s music results in another masterpiece.

Vaanam Kizhe Movie: Thoongathey Thambi Thoongathey

This song has to have the one of the best openings in tfm. The orchestration is simply out of the world, it brilliantly conveyes the mood of a guy who is stoned and dreaming his fantasies.

Ayiram thamari Movie: Alaigal Oyvathillai

Two people who hate each other suddenly find themselves in love and irresistable. This is the situation for which this song is composed. The opening sequence conveyes it all; the tablas capture the moment and the rest of the song just carries it from there.

Alagaga Sirithathu Movie: December Pookal

Mohan had always enjoyed special songs from Ilayaraja and this songs was so unique that I had to include it in the list. There is something different about this song that makes it so enjoyable to listen to.

Then Madurai Movie: Dharmathin Thailaivan

What a song!! It is my absolute favourite. The movie was nothing exceptional but this makes it memorable. SPB uses his magic and gives a stellar song. The conveys the joys of a happy family.

Annan Enna Thambi Enna Movie: Dharma Durai

If the previous song conveys the joys of a happy family this song conveys the absolute opposite. The orchestration is perfect for the situation for which the song is composed. A brother who is betrayed by his two younger brother pours his heart out and sings about his agony.

Eh Rasathi Movie: En uyir thozhan

Ilayaraja is sometimes called the ’’King of Chorus’’. How true, Raja has composed many songs with just the chorus, all of them are great, but this one is exceptional. One song that comes to mind other than this is Thamthana Thamthana thallam from Pudhiya Varapugal.

Kodiyile Maligai Poo Movie: Kadalora Kavithaigal

Duets are hard to comeby these days, so that makes this even more exceptional to listen to. A landmark song in Tamil film music. Everything is perfect in this song, I would give it a perfect 10. Jeyachandran and Janaki are the singers and Vairamuthu penned the lyrics.

Pani vizhum malar vanam Movie: Ninaivellam Nithya

It pains me that a horrible movie like Ninaivellam Nithya had some of the best songs composed by Raja. If not for the songs nobody would have know such a movie ever existed. One of the all time great songs had SPB going great guns.